Acts 18

Paul in Corinth

1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.2 There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus. He had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul visited with them.3 Because they practiced the same trade, he stayed and worked with them. They all worked with leather.4 Every Sabbath he interacted with people in the synagogue, trying to convince both Jews and Greeks.5 Once Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.6 When they opposed and slandered him, he shook the dust from his clothes in protest and said to them, "You are responsible for your own fates! I’m innocent! From now on I’ll go to the Gentiles!"7 He left the synagogue and went next door to the home of Titius Justus, a Gentile God-worshipper.

8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household came to believe in the Lord. Many Corinthians believed and were baptized after listening to Paul.
9 One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, "Don’t be afraid. Continue speaking. Don’t be silent.10 I’m with you and no one who attacks you will harm you, for I have many people in this city."

11 So he stayed there for eighteen months, teaching God’s word among them.
12 Now when Gallio was the governor of the province of Achaia, the Jews united in their opposition against Paul and brought him before the court.

13 "This man is persuading others to worship God unlawfully," they declared.
14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If there had been some sort of injury or criminal behavior, I would have reason to accept your complaint.15 However, since these are squabbles about a message, names, and your own Law, deal with them yourselves. I have no desire to sit in judgment over such things."16 He expelled them from the court,

17 but everyone seized Sosthenes, the synagogue leader, and gave him a beating in the presence of the governor. None of this mattered to Gallio.
18 After Paul stayed in Corinth for some time, he said good-bye to the brothers and sisters. At the Corinthian seaport of Cenchreae he had his head shaved, since he had made a solemn promise. Then, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila, he sailed away to Syria.19 After they arrived in Ephesus, he left Priscilla and Aquila and entered the synagogue and interacted with the Jews.20 They asked him to stay longer, but he declined.21 As he said farewell to them, though, he added, "God willing, I will return." Then he sailed off from Ephesus.

22 He arrived in Caesarea, went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch.

23 After some time there he left and traveled from place to place in the region of Galatia and the district of Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

Apollos and his ministry

24 Meanwhile, a certain Jew named Apollos arrived in Ephesus. He was a native of Alexandria and was well-educated and effective in his use of the scriptures.25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and spoke as one stirred up by the Spirit. He taught accurately the things about Jesus, even though he was aware only of the baptism John proclaimed and practiced.26 He began speaking with confidence in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they received him into their circle of friends and explained to him God’s way more accurately.27 When he wanted to travel to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples so they would open their homes to him. Once he arrived, he was of great help to those who had come to believe through grace.

28 He would vigorously defeat Jewish arguments in public debate, using the scriptures to prove that Jesus was the Christ.

Acts 18

Paul at Corinth

1 After thist Pault departed fromt Athenss and went to Corinth.ss2 There het foundt a Jew named Aquila,s a native of Pontus,s who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudiuss had ordered all the Jews to depart fromt Rome.s Paul approachedt them,3 and because he worked at the same trade, he stayed with them and worked with themt (for they were tentmakerst by trade).s

4 He addressedt both Jews and Greeks in the synagogues every Sabbath, attempting to persuadet them.
5 Now when Silas and Timothy arrivedt from Macedonia,s Paul became wholly absorbed with proclaimingt the word, testifyingt to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.ts6 When they opposed himt and reviled him,t he protested by shaking out his clothests and said to them, “Your bloods be on your own heads! I am guiltless!t From now on I will go to the Gentiles!”7 Then Pault leftt the synagoguet and went to the house of a person named Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God,ts whose house was next door to the synagogue.8 Crispus, the president of the synagogue,t believed in the Lord together with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard about itt believed and were baptized.9 The Lord said to Paul by a visions in the night,t “Do not be afraid,t but speak and do not be silent,10 because I am with you, and no one will assaultt you to harmt you, because I have many people in this city.”

11 So he stayed theret a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.t

Paul Before the Proconsul Gallio

12 Now while Gallios was proconsuls of Achaia,s the Jews attacked Paul togethert and brought him before the judgment seat,ts13 saying, “This man is persuadingt people to worship God in a way contrary tot the law!”14 But just as Paul was about to speak,t Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of some crime or serious piece of villainy,t I would have been justified in accepting the complaintt of you Jews,t15 but since it concerns points of disagreementt about words and names and your own law, settlet it yourselves. I will not bet a judge of these things!”16 Then he had them forced awayt from the judgment seat.s

17 So they all seized Sosthenes, the president of the synagogue,ts and began to beatt him in front of the judgment seat.s Yet none of these things were of any concernts to Gallio.

Paul Returns to Antioch in Syria

18 Paul, after stayingt many more days in Corinth,s said farewell tot the brothers and sailed away to Syria accompanied byt Priscilla and Aquila.s Het had his hair cut offt at Cenchreats because he had made a vow.s19 When they reached Ephesus,ss Pault left Priscilla and Aquilat behind there, but he himself wentt into the synagogues and addressedt the Jews.20 When they asked him to stay longer, he would not consent,s21 but said farewell tot them and added,t “I will come backt to you again if God wills.”t Thent he set sail from Ephesus,22 and when he arrivedt at Caesarea,ss he went up and greetedt the church at Jerusalemts and then went down to Antioch.ss

23 After he spentt some time there, Paul left and went through the region of Galatias and Phrygia,s strengthening all the disciples.

Apollos Begins His Ministry

24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, arrived in Ephesus.s He was an eloquent speaker,t well-versedt in the scriptures.25 He had been instructed int the way of the Lord, and with great enthusiasmt he spoke and taught accurately the factst about Jesus, although he knewt only the baptism of John.26 He began to speak out fearlesslyt in the synagogue,s but when Priscilla and Aquilas heard him, they took him asidet and explained the way of God to him more accurately.27 When Apollost wanted to cross over to Achaia,s the brothers encouragedt himt and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, het assisted greatly those who had believed by grace,

28 for he refuted the Jews vigorouslyt in public debate,t demonstrating from the scriptures that the Christts was Jesus.t